Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-05-28

FEATHER BED soLD1ERY.
The National Encampment-sher-
man, Blaine and Cullom.
Special Correspondence of the INrEn-OcEAN. =.
WASHINGTON May A.-This panolpy
of war Is something mnemonic of 1850.
The soldiers here, taking part in the
National drill, from all parts of the
country. represent the incipient military
power of the republic. None of them
the majority of them are between twenty
and twenty-five. They are the stalwart
young men, the citizen yoeman of the
land. Their marching and countermarch-
ing, on the tented field, and through the
beautiful streets and avenues, seems
peaceful as we'll as beautiful. But, it re-
minds the older heads of the days of
1860; when the drums and flies Of the
"wide-awakes" and the "hickories'' rent
the: air. Those gaily dressed fellows
with their blazing torches, were uncon-
oSAOu6Ay NAAAAAAAS WV SoAAVOSp OOV"0oA
the sections. Ellsworth's Zouayes trav-
eled all over the country, giving exhibi-
ton drills, and showing their proficiency
in the manual of arms. But, many wise
mes shook their heads, and presaged the
stern realities of the soldering, which
then but holiday amusement. This
afternoon, after the grand dress parade,
an old gentleman remarked: :
II used to play soldier, once. I took
n,~nnk 94n1 nc Snkn~nok sN0,,~ 1@N~1 ----
pany, out in Illinois, and was captain of
a troop ofwideawakes. The men learned
all the maneouvres, and I learned how
to command. We were applauded where
ever we went. Within a year after we
formed the company, we had disbanded,
Lincoln had been elected, and we were
again assembled, and I was again elected
captain. But Il uniforms were differ
ent. Instead of the staff and lamp, we
had muskets in our hands. Within less
than a year after we had disbanded as
wideawakes, no less than twenty of our
number lay dead and dying at Belmont.
I marched out of the fight with a frac-
tured arm, a bullet having gone through
it; but I carried my sword back to camp
and then was in hospital. This was re-
atty. 1t was different from this play
soldier business. TWAS terribly in earn
est. It was meeting flame and smoke,
and shout and groan and saber stroke.
It was something that I never care to see
again. Yet, as these gay young fellows
contend for their prizes, Icannot but feel
that they are drilling for a greater pur-
pose. There is a black cloud hanging
over u northern border. Canada is
England's approach to this republic.
Twice within a century haye we caused
the mother country to feel and fear our
prowess and power; but England is not
satisfied. She " will be satisfied.
Her feeling is less intense, but it is sim
liar to that Of Germany toward Alsace-
Lorraine, until that country was recov-
cred. l hope that these boys will not be
obliged to do any real soldier work /; but
1 feel that they will"
Many others express the same OrebOd-
ings. 1t is questionable if there is reas-
enable ground for them; but the country
has not forgotten the horrors of war.
Zone thing is pleasant to note" says a
gentleman in the wal department: tsand
that is, that we are fairly we'll prepared
for wal if it should come. 1t is not gen.
orally known, but is a fact, that the state
of Pennsylvania alone AN put $4,000
inside of ferty-eight hours. New York
can send forth twenty thousand as soon,
and twice as many inside of a week.
Other states have their militia companies,
and each would form a nucleus tor
greater numbers of soldiers. On the
whole, it is we'll and wise to have these
annual competitive drills. There is not
much likelihood of civil wal again in
this country. In the event ofarmed con-
aict with a foreign foe, the republic can
put 10000 skilled soldiers in the field
the aid of the veterans of both sides, we
can mobilize an army of 0 1000 in the
east and 500, 900 in the west. We are not
defenseless."
fisherman and Blaine are like two old
bulls" said a Republican ex-senator.
''They will gore any other to death if he
tries to enter their pasture"
"Will either of them be nominated ?"
."No. They will kill each other off.
ever been before, and Blaine will be
weaker Blaine will try to spring Alli-
son on the convention, and Sherman will
try to play Hawley of Connecticut against
him. Then they will kill off both OF
those men. Neither side will accept the
compromise candidate of the other.''
"Who is likely to be the lucky man :"
IA western man, of course Senator
Cnllom of Illinois could get the support
of both the Blaine and Sherman ele-
ments. So could Wilson of Iowa. Conk-
AAA6 "ONAN SuPPoAV SAeAA0A VI CAOoO NULL
tlemen, too. He must never be counted
out while he liyes. He is out of politics,
1t is true, but he is liable to enter at the
wrong moment. He is not dead, nor
even asleep"
(Which of those two gentlemen is the
stronger?
"Cullom. He was wise enough to see
that the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the railroads
was to be, and must be, stopped. No
0thor cop,of0N 1,oh tho ,a~rol -
step forward ana take the initiative. He
was the man the people wanted. He is
absolutely independent ind fearless, and
has demonstrated that fact to the people
by his Interstate commerce bill. He
stood up to the rack like a man. For
some days he fought the peoples battle
single-handed. Other senators came
forward when they were obliged to do
so, but they were too slow to suit the
people. They never dared to put them
selves on record as champions of the
peoples rights until Culfom's energy
and terrible earnestness drove them to
it. He is now one of the central figures
of the political stage"
"What sort ofa mar is he personality
"Hei is a great deal like Wilson ofIowa,
whom I just named in connection with
the presidency. He is a man of great
dignity and of strong features. In APP
pearapce he is not unlike tho great Lin
coin. When you become acquainted
with him, and he believes in you and is
willing to be sociable, he is agenial COM
panion and o lasting and powerful friend.
Like Wilson, he is an anti-monopolist,
and also n of the staunchest of temper
ance I do not believe that he has
taken as broad public ground as Wilson
has done. There has been no occasion
in Illinois. In Iowa, when the prohibit
amendment Wilson came out in several
speeches which were stronger, ADLER,